Outboard motor with adjustable pitch propeller



June 22, 1954 A. M. ROSSMAN 2,681,632

OUTBOARD MOTOR WITH ADJUSTABLE PITCH PROPELLER Filed June 20, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l I W M INVENTOR, v

alien )7), Rosanna June 22, 1954 A. M. ROSSMAN 2,681,632

OUTBOARD MOTOR WITH ADJUSTABLE PITCH PROPELLER Filed June 20, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 .l i I I I I Z j .55 s

l i If 49 327 X I a as 75 Q I 27 x I Q I 45 so Z l l I 60 59 2O 7/ 69 7/ INVENTOR.

27 0-1 len I72 Passman June 22, 1954 A. M. ROSSMAN OUTBOARD MOTOR WITH ADJUSTABLE PITCH PROPELLER Filed June 20, 1949 I5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR.

* I allenmPossman BY me We 75 86 174 Patented June 22, 1954 OUTBOARD MOTOR WITH ADJUSTABLE 'PITCH PROPELLER Allen MrtRossman, .Wilmette, Ill.

--Applicati0n June 20, 1949,-Serial No. 100,235

10. Claims.

1 i This invention relates to adjustable fpitch .propellers and; moreparticularly, to 'such. propellers as maybe adjusted anaamount: sufficient to elfect a complete reversal of the direction of drive by i the propeller. $1 In its: more specific. .aspects the present invention is concerned with-propellers for boats, wherein the speed isvaried by changing the propeller pitch. hTheuinvention ispar- .ticularly: applicable to propellers driven: by. outboard motors.

. It is oneofthe objects oftthe. presentinvention to provide animpro-ved means for .mounting an adjustable pitchtpropeller in a .hub. .In the preferred embodiment of the present invention the propeller blade is adjustable about an axis that extends radiallytof the axis about which the blade rotates when inoperationz .Each'blade is adjusted angularly bymeans of an. internal gear that is part of the propellerlblade, and a pinion, one end of which is inmesh with the internal gear and .theloppositetend of which is in Umeshwith a. rack thatextends axially of the propeller hub. The. pinion that connects the rack with the propeller. blade is offset, from a radial position in the hub. This offset facilitates the location of the propeller blades with their axes. of adjustment extending radially,,.z with a resulting improvement in the efficiencyiof the propeller blades.

It is a furthenobject of. thepresent invention to provide improvedlmeans'for holding the pitch adjusting pinion inthe propeller hub. Inaaccord ,ance with the, principles of. the present :invention the pinion is located in a cylindrical bore .in the hub, which bore is. of a diameter only .sufficiently greater .than .the diameter of. the pinion to allowa minimum of clearance between them. The cylindrical wall of thebore acts as a bearing for the pinion thus eliminating the need of a central. bearing for thespinion.

=It is a.further object oflthe present invention to provide an outboard 'motorawith .an improved gearing mechanism for transmitting .thetpropeli ler pitch adjusting,- motiorrg, In .amoutbOard :mo-

tor of the type, with. which the :presentin-vention is primarily concerned-there isi-xprovided aavertical drive; shaftqwhich terminates in. arrrzunderwater unit that includes a..gear.a=.housing.:.from which extends; the propellercshaft that is -driven ,bythe vertical. driveushaft. E.The.-.=,gea-r;- housing .ing. for. suchzpurposes,Which-gear; housing isrrsimmaple. in construction-mud economical iofumanufacture and which lends... itself particularly for use as part of the underwater unit of an. outboard motor for boats.

Outboard motors are generally mounted in such a manner as to permit swinging of the entire unit to bring the underwater portion of the unit out of the path of any obstruction that may be encountered by the bottom of the unit. When such a unit is operated to reverse the direction of movement of the boat there is a tendency for theunderwater unit to swing upwardly or in a direction outwardly of the water. To prevent such; occurrence during. rearward movement of the boat there is provided means for locking the motor unit against upwardly swinging of the underwater part. In dealing with a'unit wherein change in the direction of operation of the boat :dle is. actuated to change from forward to re- :versexnotion. .There is a serious objection to utilizinga single handle for performing the pitch adjustment function and also the function of lockingthe unit against tilting. When a. boat that is driven by an outboard motor is operating at a high speed and it is desired to reverse the propeller blade by adjusting the pitch thereof, it

is found that as the pitch of the propeller is being changed a condition sometimes is reached when the momentum of the boat is carrying it in a forward direction faster than. the corresponding propeller speed even before the pitch adjusting handle has reached its reverse drive position. and before the unit has been locked against tilting. During that interval of time there is a tendency for the whole motor unit to swing about its pivot clue to the reaction of the water against the forward moving propeller unit. When this occurs then the continued manual movement of the pitchcontrol lever to bring the propeller blades into reverse driving position may not be effective to lock the unit. It is an object of the present invention to provide means for overcoming the above difficulty. This, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, is effected by. providing two separate handles, one for adjusting thepitch and the other for locking the .unit against tilting. The. two handles are so arranged that in the normal operation of the unit both may be gripped simultaneously in one hand andmovedtogether. However, when desired the lock-actuating handle. may be actuated independently of the pitchadjust-ing handle. When changing from a forward to a reverse direction of operation of the boat it is desirable first to operate the locking handle to lock the unit against swinging and then to operate the pitch adjusting handle to its reverse direction position. The attainment of the above and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure l is an elevational view of an outboard motor embodying the present invention;

Figure 1a is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line ia-Ia of Figure l igure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional View of the gear housing which is the bottom of the underwater portion of the motor of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure l is a sectional view taken along the line :li of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a sectional view tak n along the line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along the line t--5 of Figure 5;

Figure '7 is a View corresponding to Figure 2 and illustrating another embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 8 and 19 are sections corresponding to Figure 5 and showing alternate ways of mounting the propeller blades in the hub;

Figure 9 is a section taken along the line 9-9 of Figure 8; and

Figure ll is a longitudinal sectional View showing this invention applied to an inboard motor.

Reference may now be had more particularly to the drawings wherein like reference numerals designate like parts throughout.

In Figure 1 there is shown, at I, an outboard motor embodying the present invention, being shown as mounted on a boat in a conventional manner. The stern of the boat is indicated fragmentarily at 2, and at 3 is indicated a bracket for mounting an outboard motor, that bracket being clamped to the stern in the usual manner. A motor supporting arm 5 is pivoted to the bracket 3 to swing about a horizontal pivot ii. A casing 5.3 is supported on the arm 5, being pivoted to swing about an axis 9!. ing 8 constitutes at its upper end a support for an internal combustion engine iii and gasoline tank ii, and at its lower end a support for an underwater unit comprising a spacer i2 and a gear case 83. The casing 8 is mounted on the arm 5 in a conventional manner, and the engine i6 and gas tank ii are secured on the casing in the usual manner. The entire unit that is mounted on the arm 5 may be swung about the axis 9 by means of a handle iii for steering the boat, as is conventional. The casing 8 also constitutes an underwater exhaust for the engine it, as is usual in the art. The usual drive shaft from the engine extends through the casing 3 to the gear housing it for transmitting power to drive the propeller, as will be more fully described as this specification proceeds.

Reference may now be had more particularly to Figr re 2 which shows a vertical cross section through the gear housing 3. The gear housing l3 comprises a casting having a horizontal cylindrical portion that is closed at one end by a curved wall 2i which is an integral part of the casting. There is thus formed a cylindrical space 22 that is open at one end to receive the pro- The caspeller hub and the gearing, bearings, etc., for the propeller. At its lower end the cylindrical'portion it! has a central fin 2 5 that acts as a rudder and also serves to protect the propeller from articles in the path of the propeller. At its upper end the cylindrical portion 26 hasa lengthwise extending rib 25 for securing the gear housing to the rest of the motor unit.

On the interior of the cylindrical portion 28, at one end thereof, there are formed four inwardly projecting, lengthwise extending tracks 21 that constitute a support for a cam follower 28 which will be described more fully as this specification proceeds. It is sufficient here to state that the cam follower is movable longitudinally in the cylindrical portion 2?} when actuated to do so by a cam that is splined on an axially rotatable pitch adjusting rod 30. The cam follower 28 is non-rotatable and is provided for reciprocating a pitch adjusting shaft that is longitudinally slidable in but rotates with a propeller hub 36. The propeller hub includes a streamlined blade-receiving portion from which a hollow shaft 38 extends into the gear housing. The shaft 38 has a bevel gear 33 at the end thereof within the housing and is journalled in a thrust ball bearing 43 the outer race of which is pressed into a mounting ring 62 that is slip fitted into the housing and suitably gasketed at its outer periphery by a ring gasket 43 to eifect a watertight seal. A plate Lid assists the thrust bearing lid in preventing longitudinal movement of the shaft 38 and the gear 39 in the assembled unit. The plate M bears against the ends of the tracks Ziand may be held against rotation in any desired manner. A water sealing spring pressed packing 45 is provided for effecting a watertight seal between the shaft 38 and the inner periphery of the ring 42. The ring 42 is maintained in place in the gear housing by a closure plate i! that is suitably bolted to the gear housing as two bolts 48. To that effect the closure plate d? has a ring portion it) that engages the end of the ring :12. The plate 4'! also has a bushing 523 that constitutes a bearing for the shaft 38. The shaft 38 is rotated by a bevel gear that is in mesh-with the gear as. The bevel gear 55 is keyed to a drive shaft 58 that is suitably journalled in ball bearings Si in the rib 25 of the gear housing i3. At its upper end the drive shaft 58 is driven by the internal combustion engine it.

As previously stated, the pitch adjusting shaft 35 rotates with the shaft 38 but is longitudinally movable therein. A ball type thrust bearing 6i secures the shaft 35 to the non-rotatable cam follower 28 in such a manner that movement of the cam follower to the right or to the le t results in a corresponding movement of the pitch adjusting shaft 35.

The cam follower 28 consists of a solid cylindrical block of metal that is slabbed off at the top, as indicated at (Fig. 4), and that has a bearing-receiving bore $5 formed at one end thereof. The outer race of the ball bearing ell is secured within the bore 66 and the inner race is secured to the pitch adjusting shaft 35, so that movement of the cam follower produces corresponding movement of thepitch adjusting shaft. In addition, the cam follower 28 has a vertical slot 658 formed therein which extends through the full height of the follower, that slot being of sufficient width to permit the pitch adjusting rod 39 to pass therethrough, and of a length in a horizontal direction suffioient to permit the follower the requisite freedom of moit "tion without the follower stopping r against the 'pitch adjustingrod 30. The cam: follower 28 l o also has a horizontal: slot: 66 therethrough within which islocated a 'cam Hi-that is keyed to the pitch adjustingrod 30. *Thecam -Iflmay consist of a circular disk thatis mounted on the pitch adjusting -rod- 30; eccentrically." The cam turns in the slot 69and-acts upon the walls ll-H of the camifollower to move thecam follower-lengthwise on the tracks 21--21.

"The pitch adjusting shaft has "one or more longitudinally"extending =oil=grooves E2 in the periphery thereof topermit the exchange flow of oil between the-hub 36 and the interior of the ---gea1- housing as theshaft' 35 is moved. At the end of thepitch adjusting shaft' 35'opposite the thrust bearing the shafthas two gear racks i 15 15.

The portion ofthe hub 36 in which the propeller blades are mounted is streamlined. In the construction herein shown the hub is constrpcted to receive two propeller blades, indicated at -30; For mounting each propeller blade the hub 36 isslabbedoff to provide a flat surface 8|,"and is machined to provide a deep annular groove 82. screwthreaded, as indicated at 83. The'inner wall is comparativelysmooth; as indicated at 64.

The outer-wall of thegr0ove'62 is A cylindrical'bore B5 is formed in the hub 36 extending from'the fiat surface 8i to a' depth "appreciably greater than thedepth of the annular groove 82. "The bore is eccentric of the groove 82. An elongated pinion 86 fits into the bore 65; The pinion is rotatable within the bore 85, with theextremities of the teeth sliding against the wall surface 85 of the bore, which surface therefore acts as a journalfor the pinion l 86 within the bore. The pinion 86 is in mesh with the gear'teeth of the rack 15.

.Each propeller blade 80 has a shank 88 in the form of a ring that is externallygthreaded to engage the threads 83 in the propellrhub. A ring gasket'BSl is. provided for sealing against the entrance of water into the hub at the joint between the propeller shaft andthe hub. The shank 88 hasan internal ringigear 96 formed therein,.the teeth of which are inlmesh with the pinion 86 and clearthe smooth wall 84 ,of the 1 deep groove 82. Thus, longitudinal movement of -.the pitch adjusting shaft 35 turns the pinions 66 each ofwhich pinions turns the corresponding propellerbladetfifl.

. The gear case I3 is secured to .the casing 8 in any desired manner, as by bolts 92-93.

The pitchadjusting rod 3!! extends upwardly from the gear housing 13, through the spacer .I2, and terminates at its upper. end in two handles 95-436.. The handle 95 is keyed to the pitch adjusting rod 30 and is rotatable through an angle of approximately toefiect the corre sponding turning of the pitch adjusting rod 36. The handle 96 hasa collar 91 as a part thereof, which collar is freely rotatableon the pitch adjusting rod 36! The collar 91 has a locking lug 98.. integral therewith and extending radially therefrom.. As the. handle 96 is turned, the lug 58 comes. into a. position where it'enters a slot U in an arcuate flange 99- that extends downwardly from the top of the mounting bracket 3 and H is. integral therewithv Whenthelug 98 is outside of the slot the entire motor' unit is free to :turn about the .pivot 6 as a center This turning is necessary to permit the underwater-unit .toswingclear. of any. obstructions that may be engaged by the rudder in 24. When the nandle 96 is turned to bring the lu'g 98 into the slot in the flange 99the lug prevents swinging of 1? the unit [about-the pivot 6.

This is "necessary when the motor is driving the boat in reverse or when the boat iscoasting andmoving at aspeed greater than the speed at" which it would be driven by the corresponding rotation.

The handles 95 and 96 are arranged so that they can both be gripped in'one hand simulta- -neously and both turned together. Turning of the handle 95 effectspitch adjustment.

When

the handle-95 is in any positionsuch. that the pitch of the propeller tends to drivethe-boat forward, the correspondingposition of thehandle 3'6 issuch that thelu'g'98 is free of its look- -ing slotfi-When the handle 95 is in a-positior.

such that the propeller tends to'drive the boat backwards the "corresponding position of the handle .96 is such that the 1u'g93 is in looking "engagement in its slot so that the -motor unit I is locked againstswinging about the pivot ii in a direction counter-clockwise" as seen in "Figure 1. Y

While the boat is being "manipulated, either duringforward movement of the boat or back -ing movement of the boat; or in changing from backing toforward' movement, the'two handles 95 and 66 are operated together.

"desired to change quickly from forward movement' to rearward movement it is desirable that When it is the locking handle. 96 be operated in advance of thehandle $35 to lock the motor unit against tilting before the pitch of the propeller has been turn transmits it to the cam 16.

against swinging about the pivot 6.

The thrust of the water on the propeller blades may create a force tending to turn the blades within the hub. This turning action is transmitted through the pinions 86 to the rack '55 so that there is an axial thrust on the rotating shaft 35. This thrust is. transmitted through the thrust bearing 65 to the cam follower, which in As an aid in resisting thisthrust the bottom of the pitch adjusting rod 30 is journalled in a groove I65 at the bottom of the gear casing. The thrust of the cam follower 28 against the earn it is a thrust between two members that are stationary with respect to one another most of the time, since the rotating thrust is taken by the thrust bearing 66. The movement between the cam lil and the cam follower 23 takes place only when the carn i6 is turned to adjust the pitch of the propeller.

In order to remove'the gearing, etc, from within the housing 23 it is merely necessary to slide the rod 3% upwardly out of the cam i6 and above thefollower 63, then, .upon' unbolting the bolts 68 the entire mechanism within the space 22 may be easilywithdrawn through the open 70' end of the. housing. 1 The entire gear housing i3 may be filled with a lubricating grease or oil, which grease or oil extends also into the hub. 36' and fills the spaces between the pinions' 86=and the bore 85. The

pitch. adjusting shaft 35 :has apair of longitudinal grooves in the periphery thereof to permit the how of oil from one end of the shaft to the other end thereof as the shaft 35 is moved further into or out of the propeller hub.

Reference may now be had more particularly to Figure 7 wherein there is shown a modification of the embodiment of the invention previously described. Insofar as the structure of Figure 7 is the same as Figure 6, identical reference numerals have been used. One of the differences between the structure of Figure 7 and that of the embodiment previously described lies in the fact that instead of the ball bearing type of thrust bearing St at the end of the pitch adjusting shaft 35 there is here substituted an Oilite metal bearing 525 between the rotatable pitch adjusting shaft 35 and the reciprocating but non-rotatable carriage structure we that corresponds to the cam follower 28. The Oilite bearing consists of very small metal particles pressed tightly together and sintered to form a porous mass, which mass is then impregnated with oil. The carrier i253, here as in the embodiment previously described, slides lengthwise in the gear housing [3. This sliding movement is obtained by means of a rack I29 formed in the carriage, the rack having gear teeth in mesh with teeth i39 on the pitch adjusting rod 30'. The bevel gear 39 on the propeller shaft 38 is driven by the bevel gear 55 on the end of the engine driven shaft 56 as in the embodiment previously described, and thus drives the propeller shaft. In this instance the shaft 38 that corresponds to the shaft 3B of Figure 2 is journalled in a bearing 50 that is located in a ring if that is bolted to and constitutes a closure for the gear housing. A ring gasket E32 provides a water-tight seal between the closure plate ti and the opening of the gear housing. A suitable water sealing gasket E33 seals against leakage of water into the gear housing around the periphery of the rotatable propeller shaft.

Reference may now be had to Figure 8 which is a view corresponding to Figure and shows a modified hub structure. In this instance the hub structure, indicated at 3%, has integral therewith two opposite circular bosses 545 that are externally screw threaded, the threads terminating at an annular shoulder it! that surrounds each boss, said shoulder having a peripheral groove therein for receiving a circular sealing gasket M3. Each boss bit has a cylindrical bore 85 formed therein for receiving the pinion 86 that is in mesh with the teeth on the rack of the pitch adjusting shaft 35. The longitudinal axis of each bore 85 is parallel to the longitudinal axis of its boss and is located eccentrically thereof, as in the case of the corresponding bores of the structure of Figure 5. Each propeller blade, indicated at St, terminates at a base It's a portion of the outside of which is of the shape of a part of a sphere of the same radius as the radius of the spherical surface of the propeller hub 36'. The inside of the base has a bore therein that is internally threaded, as indicated at M1, to thread over the boss Hit. At the end of the bore the base :48 has an internal gear M9 formed therein that is in mesh with the pinion 86. The

a base kit has a counterbore that makes a sliding fit on the annular shoulder lei of the hub 36 and makes a sealing fit with the gasket M3. It is believed that the operation of the pitch adjusting propeller, in the embodiment illustrated in Figures 8 and 9, will be apparent from the description previously given in connection with the first described embodiment of the invention.

. elude more than two propeller blades if desired.

In Figure 10 there has been illustrated a man-' nor of mounting three propeller blades on the hub of an outboard motor constructed in the manner illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. In this instance the propeller hub is indicated at 36a and the rack end of the pitch adjusting shaft is indicated at 35a. The pitch adjusting shaft 35a has three sets of racks, indicated at He, the racks being at 60 to one another. The propeller hub 36a in this instance has three hub-receiving slots or annular grooves 82 that are identical with the grooves 82 illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, the three grooves 82 in Figure 10 being centered on axes apart. The three pinions 86 are mounted in bores 85, as in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 5, said bores being eccentric of the center of flat surfaces 8! in the propeller hub structure.

Reference may now be had to Figure 11 that shows the present propeller mounting means as mounted on a hub of a boat driven by an inboard motor. The inboard motor and the connections therefrom for driving the propeller hub may be of any preferred construction. It is suficient here to state that the underwater driving part of the unit includes a hub structure no that is keyed to rotate with and be driven by an engine driven, axially rotatable drive shaft ill that rotates the hub and with it the propeller blades that are mounted thereon. The hub structure includes a spherical portion I13 that has a cylindrical externally threaded shank fit that is, in this instance, secured to the drive shaft by a threadedadaptor ['55. A. longitudinal cylindrical bore I78 is formed in the hub centrall thereof for receiving a pitch adjusting shaft H9 that rotates with the hub but is longitudinally slidable therein. The pitch adjusting shaft iii? is secured to a non-rotatable longitudinally movable shaft its by means of a thrust bearing structure I81. The thrust hearing structure is an Oilite hearing. The bearing consists of two parts screw threaded together and receiving between them a cylindrical disk head E83 that is centered on and secured to the shaft H9. The two Oilite parts are keyed together by a pin let. The shaft i8!) is secured to the hearing by a pin 58%. As a result of this arrangement the bearing is non-rotatable in the hub but is slidable therein, and the pitch adjusting shaft i'i'il rotates in th bearing,

A section of the hub structure, taken along the line aa, would appear exactly as Figure 5, or as Figures 8 or 10, if those embodiment were used.

Adjustment of the pitch of the propeller blades is obtained by producing relative longitudinal movement of the pitch adjusting shaft H9 with respect to th hub i'i'fi. This may be done in either of two Ways. In one type of inboard motor the hub structure HE! is mounted so that it cannot move longitudinally as it is rotated. In this type of structure pitch adjustment is made by moving the shaft 589 further into or'out of the hub. In another type of inboard motor the shaft 81] is held against longitudinal movement and the rotatable drive shaft with its connected hub structure is mounted for controlled longitudinal movement so that as the hub is moved to the right or to the left, as seen in Figure 11, there is a corresponding rotation of the pinions 86 on the gear racks 15.

In compliance with the requirements of the patent statutes I have here shown and described a few preferred embodiments of my invention. It is, however, to beunderstood that the invention is not limited to the precise constructions here shown, the sam being merely illustrative of the principles of the invention. What I consider new and desire to secure by LettersPatent is:

1. An outboard motor having an underwater unit comprising a gear housing, a propeller shaft rotatable in said housing and extending therefrom, a reciprocable pitch. adjusting member extending lengthwise of the shaft and rotat: able therewith, a slide member in the housing, means in the housing engagingand guiding the slide member for movement in adirection lengthwise of the propeller shaft, a thrust bearing for the pitch adjusting member,- said bearing being mounted on the slide member, means for holding the slide member against rotation, said last means including a rotatable pitch adjusting rod extending at substantially right angles to the propeller shaft into the housing, and actuating means connecting the rod with the slide member for actuating the slide member for pitch adjustment of the propeller upon turning of the rod.

2. An outboard motor having an underwater unit comprising a gear housing, means mounting the unit for turning about one axis for steering and about another axis at a substantial angle to the first axis for swinging the unit out of the way of obstruction, a'propeller shaft rotatable, in said housing and extending therefrom, a reciprocable pitch adjusting member extending lengthwise of the shaft and rotatable therewith, a slide member in the housing, means in the housing engaging and guiding the slide member for movement in a direction lengthwise of the propeller shaft, a thrust bearing for the pitch adjusting member, said bearing being mounted on the slide member, means for holding the slide member against rotation, said last means including a rotatable pitch adjusting rod extending at substantially right angles to the propeller shaft into the housing, actuating means connecting the rod with the slide member for actuating the slide member for pitch adjustment of the propeller upon turning of the rod, an actuating handle secured to the rod for actuating the same, and means for locking the motor unit against turning about said second axis and including a second handle independent of said first handle and rotatably mounted on the rod and movable independently of the first handle and adjacent the first handle in a position to enable both handles to be gripped by one hand for joint operation.

3. A propeller type drive unit for boats, said unit including an adjustable pitch propeller and having means for hingedly mounting the unit on a boat in a position for swinging the propeller out of the water, means for adjusting the pitch of the propeller from forward to reverse drive, said last means including an actuating handle, means for locking the unit against swinging of the propeller portion thereof out of the water, a second actuating handle, an actuating connection between the locking means and the second handle, said two handles being separately operable and being adjacent one another in position to enable both handles to be gripped by one hand for joint operation.

In an outboard motor, an underwater unit comprising a gear housing having a longitudinal bore, an adjustable pitch propeller assembly comprising a rotatable propeller shaft and a pitch adjusting shaft concentric of one another and longitudinally slidable with respect to one another, said assembly including longitudinally movable means for actuating the pitch adjustil'lg shaft and means for holding the longitudinally movable means against rotation and including also bearing means connecting said longitudinally movable means with the pitch adjusting shaft, said assembly including also a driving gear secured to the propeller shaft and a mounting ring, means for securing the mormting ring to the outer one of the two shaftssaid last named including a bearing for the outer shaft, said first named means and said driving gear being both on one side of said mounting ring, adjustable pitch propeller blades mounted on the propeller shaft on the opposite side of the mounting ring, gearing connecting the blades to the pitch adjusting shaft, and means for securing the assembly to the housing with the in serted parts of the assembly within the bore.

5. An outboard motor having an underwater unit comprising a gear housing, a propeller shaft rotatable in said housing and extending therefrom, a reciprocable pitch adjusting member extending lengthwise of the shaft and rotatable therewith, a slide member in the housing, means in the housing engaging and guiding the slide member for movement in a direction lengthwise of the propeller shaft, a thrust bearing for the pitch adjusting member, said bearing being mounted on the slide member, means for bolding the slide member against rotation, said last means including a rotatable pitch adjusting rod extending at substantially right angles to the propeller shaft into the slide member, and actuating means within the slide member connecting the rod with the slide member for actuating the slide member for pitch adjustment of the propeller upon turning of the rod.

6. An outboard motor having an underwater unit comprising a gear housing, a propeller shaft rotatable in said housing and extending therefrom, an adjustable pitch propel er driven by said shaft, a pitch adjusting rod extending into the housing, an actuating handle, means connecting the handle with the rod for actuating the rod upon actuation of the handle, and means for locking the motor unit, a second handle movable independently of the first handle means mounting the second handle for movement over substantially the same path of movement as the first handle, said mounting means locating the second handle adjacent to the first handle in a position to enable both handles to be gripped by one hand for joint operation, and an actuating connection between the locking means and the second handle.

'2. A propeller type drive unit for boats, said unit including an adjustable pitch propeller and having means for hingedly mounting the unit on a boat in a position for swinging the propeller out of the water, means for adjusting the pitch of the propeller from forward to reverse drive, a pivoted actuating handle, an actuating connection between said handle and said last named means for operating said last named means upon operation of the handle, means for locking the unit against swinging of the propeller portion thereof out of the water, said second means includnig a second pivoted actuating handle, said two handles being separately operable and being pivoted about the same axis and being adjacent one another in position to enable both handles to be gripped by one hand for joint operation.

8. A structure such as is defined in claim 3 wherein there is provided means including a 7 11 third actuating handle for turning the unit to steer the boat, said two first-mentionedactuating handles being between the third handle and the aforementioned means for mounting the unit on a boat.

9. An outboard motor having an under water unit comprising a gear housing,a propeller shaft rotatable in said housing and extending therefrom, a reciprocable pitch adjusting member extending lengthwise of the shaft and rotatable therewith, a non-rotatable slide member in the housing, means in the housing engaging and guiding the slide member for movement in a direction lengthwise of the propeller shaft, a thrust bearing for the pitch adjusting member, said bearing being mounted on the slide member, a pitch adjusting rod extending at substantially right angles to the propeller shaft into the housing, and actuating means connecting the rod with the slide member for actuating the slide member for pitch adjustment of the propeller upon movement of the rod.

10. An outboard motor having an under water unit comprising a gear housing, a propeller shaft rotatable in said housing and extending therefrom, a reciprocable pitch adjusting member extending lengthwise of the shaft and rotatable therewith, a non-rotatable slide member in the housing, means in the housing engaging and guiding the slide member for movement in a direction lengthwise of the propeller shaft, a thrust bearing for the pitch adjusting member, said 12 hearing being mounted on the slide member, a pitch adjusting rod extendnig into the housing at substantially right angles to the propeller shaft, and actuating means within the slide member connecting the rod with the slide member for actuating the slid member for pitch adjustment of the propeller upon movement of the rod.

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